UK SLB Jamar "Boogie" Watson gets a sack during the University of Kentucky football game against Vanderbilt at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Mike Weaver/Special to Courier Journal

UK WR Tavin Richardson and Vanderbilt CB Joejuan Williams grab each other during the University of Kentucky football game against Vanderbilt at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Mike Weaver/Special to Courier Journal

Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur (14) hands the ball off to tight end Cody Markel (45) during an NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. Bryan Woolston, AP

Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) is held by Vanderbilt offensive lineman Justin Skule (58) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. Kentucky won, 14-7. Bryan Woolston, AP

UK CB Chris Westry applies pressure to Vanderbilt QB Kyle Shurmur during the University of Kentucky football game against Vanderbilt at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Mike Weaver/Special to Courier Journal

Vanderbilt recovers a fumble by UK QB Terry Wilson during the University of Kentucky football game against Vanderbilt at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Mike Weaver/Special to Courier Journal

Vanderbilt QB Kyle Shurmur is pressured during the University of Kentucky football game against Vanderbilt at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Mike Weaver/Special to Courier Journal

Kentucky running back Asim Rose (10) is tackled by Vanderbilt linebacker Jordan Griffin (40) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. Kentucky won, 14-7. Bryan Woolston, AP

Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson (3) is tackled by Vanderbilt defensive back Max Worship (14) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. Kentucky won, 14-7. Bryan Woolston, AP

Vanderbilt wide receiver C.J. Bolar (83) catches a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. Kentucky won, 14-7. Bryan Woolston, AP

“I took a timeout and asked (Ludwig) to give us his best call. So with that being said, he felt like that was the best call, and we roll with it,” Mason said. “I don’t second-guess it. I don’t need to second-guess it. If you are trying to turn this into something it’s not, don’t do it.

“… This has got nothing to do with Andy Ludwig. We called the play. We should’ve blocked it. We should’ve got the first down. We didn’t. Keep going.”

Why Vanderbilt didn’t try a go-ahead field goal

CLOSE

Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason bristled at some of the questions about a play call on a failed fourth-down attempt in a 14-7 loss to No. 17 Kentucky.
Adam Sparks, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Vanderbilt failed on a fourth-and-1 play at Kentucky’s 16-yard line early in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t the Commodores’ last chance to take the lead, but it was their best.

After calling a timeout, Mason opted to go for the fourth down rather than attempt a short field goal. Ryley Guay had already missed a 31-yarder in the third quarter after missing a key 25-yard attempt the week before in a loss to No. 12 Florida.

“So I felt it was critical for me to go for it on fourth down,” said Mason, citing Guay’s earlier miss.

The turnover didn’t matter. The play was doomed from the snap of the ball.

Mason said the run was called to the right side, the formation’s strong side, because Vanderbilt had some success there during the game. And Kentucky was aligned with its strength to the outside, perhaps allowing Wakefield to find a crease in the middle. But at the snap of the ball, Mason said Kentucky’s outermost defender slid inside to overload the center of the line.

“We had a good play call, and we just didn’t execute it,” quarterback Kyle Shurmur said.

Though he had not seen the game film yet, Mason said his first impression was that Shurmur initially made the right assessment to run the play that was called rather than audible to a pass.

“I think what Kyle didn’t see was the overhang (defender) sitting outside, who folded back inside and was able to make the play,” Mason said. “It is what it is. I’m not going to sit here and second-guess it. It’s out there. If he felt like he should’ve checked it, man, he would’ve checked it. He didn’t, so we ran it.”

The outcome of the game didn’t hang merely on that fourth-down call, but it should hit a nerve with the Commodores, who have lost three straight games heading to Arkansas next Saturday (11 a.m., SEC Network).

They are 6-for-13 on fourth-down conversion attempts this season, but their misses have outshined their successes.

A failed fourth-down pass ended Vanderbilt’s hopes of upsetting No. 4 Notre Dame. A failed fourth-down run — Khari Blasingame’s rush for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the 14-yard line — may have kept the Commodores from stealing early momentum and leading No. 6 Georgia near halftime.

Like Wakefield’s ill-fated run against Kentucky, Blasingame was met immediately by an unblocked defender on a play that never seemed to have a chance at reaching the first-down marker. But Shurmur was quick to downplay the significance of those failed fourth-down plays.

“I don’t think all these (games) are coming down to one play. I think this is a team game, and there are a bunch of factors that affect the game,” Shurmur said. “So I don’t think it’s all coming down to fourth down. There are plenty of opportunities where we could’ve scored points, we could’ve gotten them off the field (on defense), and all three phases could’ve been better.

“So I don’t want to start saying (the loss) was because we missed on fourth down.”

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.